LOOKING FORWARD.

Evening Star, Issue 24285, 28 August 1942, Page 2

LOOKING FORWARD.

Ox the whole it is an encouraging survey of war prospects which American high officials present as a result of their access to the most confidential sources of information in Britain. Wo did not need to he ,to!d that Britain itself is united to .the last degree in support of Mr Churchill’s Government and the war oifort. In Egypt it is still difficulties and dangers that are forecast, hut military experts are confident that wo can maintain air supremacy, and thus win through. The Russians, it emerges from Mr Churchill’s visit, expect to hold the Caucasus — though there also the situation is precarious—and to maintain a winter stand, probably along the Volga. Their strength has been notably shown in the offensive west of Moscow, the Germans have but a limited time before the winter comes, and if wo could sec what Germany is suffering behind the strength which, by an abnormal effort, she still puts into her front line, every element that is opposing her might feel more cheer. Following the American naval offensive, it is said, the Japanese will not try to attack Australia or India. That depends upon a battle which is still in progress, but the omens are good. In another week three years of the war will have passed. The outlook is at least better—to a view that goes below the surface it should be very much better—than it was at the end of any previous year. At the end of the first the Battle of Britain was still undecided. Mr Churchill was warning the nation that an attempt at invasion before the winter came was probably imminent, and threats to the same effect were made in German pronouncements. At the end of the second year Germany was still advancing into Russia, and the counter-offensive that saved Leningrad and Moscow had not hegun. America was rendering her lond-lease aid, but she was not at war. Japan and America have since become combatants. and, after her first successes, there are increasing signs that the Allies have measured the strength of Japan. Her reverses in China would appear to show that the widespread operations to which she stands committed in conjunction are too much for her resources, yet each part of them is essential to the rest. The strength of America grows daily, while that of the Axis Powers declines.. An American commander has just stated;- “ Wo have more armoured vehicles, more fire-power and self-propelling cannon _ than the Germans or any other nation.” The United States to-day is turning out—not promising—one aeroplane every eight and a-half minutes and three ships a day. Though blood and tears and sweat -will be needed yet to exact it, the doom of the modern Belshazzars is on the wall.